cringeworthy

or cringe-wor·thy

[ krinj-wur-thee ]

adjective

1. causing a reaction or feeling of embarrassment, awkwardness, or discomfort:

   They exchanged glances at the show’s cringeworthy attempts at humor.

Other Words From

• cringe·wor·thi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cringeworthy¹

First recorded in 1975–80; cringe ( def ) + -worthy ( def )

Example Sentences

The musical has become such a staple in the pantheon of pop culture that a movie version could turn a lucrative Hollywood no-brainer into a cringeworthy laughingstock if the source material wasn’t handled with the care that diehard fans expect.

From Salon

Democrats have successfully framed this election as a contest between normal and “weird,” to recycle the cringeworthy epithet from the Harris-Walz peak of early September.

From Salon

At political rallies and in media circles, Gachagua railed against Kenyatta, often in words that other politicians would find cringeworthy.

From BBC

There are some cringeworthy moments watching the pair win at detective work while losing as vulnerable fangirls.

From Los Angeles Times

What he presents in the first half is cringeworthy: a chintzy and cheesy playacting of the chaos, with any discussion of the issues.

From Los Angeles Times